Justice and Public Safety

Two bills propose cameras in areas with high numbers of accidents, and where construction is happening, to enforce speed limits. Current law prohibits using their use to gather evidence for a citation, in most instances.

Minnesota wants widespread roadside drug testing, but pilot data reveals key limitations and practicality concerns agencies must consider. Government Technology broke down the data within "spit" test discrepancies.

The Oceanside Police Department has been offered grant money for a 13-month trial of new first responder drones that can soar from a downtown rooftop within seconds of a 911 call.

Yuba City and Marysville would participate with Yuba and Sutter counties in joining an integrated public safety information system. The endeavor is contingent on the former county securing a $2.6 million federal grant.

After a series of failures with its current emergency alert platform, the county approved a $37,000 contract for CodeRED, which will streamline urgent alerts and provide more reliable service for residents.

The pilot with a tech company, underway until mid-April, adds artificial intelligence to several existing security cameras in the city. The software will have a human verify a weapon has been seen before notification.

Enrollment in state work release can rise above 350 during the year. It now stands at 166 people, 12 of whom work remote. Lawmakers are considering a monthly fee for the laptops provided.

Safety concerns from families and staff prompted Harford County Public Schools to buy 11 Opengate weapons detection systems, but the district intends to use them primarily for events, not daily screening.

The City Council signed off recently on spending $240,000 for 32 automatic license plate reader cameras, and three surveillance cameras. Two members did, however, express concerns about privacy and surveillance.

The project is nearing completion, with training on the new court management system slated to begin this spring. Paid for entirely by federal funds, it will eventually allow for electronic filing of court documents.

As dozens of other states have moved their own court records online, Maine still largely remains in the world of paper files, even though the state has spent more than $17 million trying to catch up.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department recently finished installing stationary license plate reader cameras, which scan plates and run them through national crime databases.

The town's first responders believe a single location to house fire, police, EMS and dispatch would allow for better coordination of services and be "a commitment to the people of Westport."

The FBI has alerted smartphone users nationwide to delete fake texts pretending to be from toll road services, delivery companies, or government agencies, saying the smishing scam is moving state to state.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a budget including $5.7 million for upgrades and House Bill 423 would help transition to Next-Generation 911 standards after the state's outdated 911 systems have struggled to handle call volume.

The FBI has issued a warning about a new text-based smishing scam in which recipients receive messages saying that they owe fake charges for using highways.

Commissioners have approved a new system that will ensure staff at the county jail check inmates the preferred four times per day. Actions such as administering medication and other daily needs will each require a scan.

A proposed law would require the state Department of Correction to produce a report on what it would take to institute non-invasive body scanners in order to limit the use of strip searches.